435/Show You Love

Show You Love
Date of Scene:	15 May 2017
Location:	Gotham City
Synopsis:	After losing her Sister and her hopes of going to Metropolis, Autumn decides to set herself down a path to help make this world a better place much to the disagreement of Batman.
Cast of Characters:	Star Shimmer, Batman

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Star Shimmer has posed:
Its late in the evening. The apartment where Autumn is living is empty. Where is she? Well clearly not home. Nope she's somewhere else. About a block away, at a 24 hour gym, A rather distraught Autumn is going to work on a punching bag. Thankfully this place is pretty friendly when it comes to transpeople. She's wearing a sports bra and yoga pants. Both in violet.

Her form is actually pretty good. She's even showing that she has decent footwork as she dances around the bag. Several punches are thrown. She has so much to learn with this but its not about learning to fight right now. Its about getting frustrations out. Frustrations that have mounted for weeks. The fact that in A little better then a week she is going to have to stand in front of her entire class, In front of all the parents too, and give a major speech is just really getting to her.

Batman has posed:
A man who looks like the type to collect discarded horse racing bet tickets swaggers in to the gym, his eyes hidden behind a pair of large aviator sunglasses. His black hair is slicked back over his head, and he sports a pencil mustache. He's dressed in a track jacket and a pair of short gym shorts.

In his mouth is a toothpick--or, as he rotates it about with his tongue, a matchstick--and he leans against a nearby wall to survey the room.

Slowly, he struts over toward the punching bags, a wolfish grin on his face.

"Nice form, nice form, nice form," he says to no one in particular.

One of the regulars lifting dumbbells not far away rolls his eyes and groans. "Beat it, Malone. This ain't a contest."

"Aw, sure it is!" the man called 'Malone' replies, shrugging half-heartedly. "Can I help it if I'm the best athlete in here?"

He tilts his head toward Autumn. "You believe me, right, sweetie?"

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn Stillwater looks at 'Malone' and rolls her eyes. "Umm, Mister. I say this with all due respect, I don't care. Right now I have a lot on my mind and I just want to vent my frustrations on this punching bag. As the guy lifting over there said, Its not a contest. We're all here to work out and stuff." She returns her attention to the bag.

A few quick combos. 1-2-3. Two piece and a biscuit style. Punch-Punch-Jab. Its very Rhythmic not to mention rather theraputic for her.

Batman has posed:
"I get it, I get it," Malone says with a nervous chuckle, meandering to the bag. "What say I offer you a bit of spottin', so at least you got a bit of feedback on your technique?"

Without waiting for a reply, the man grabs the punching bag and leans against it. "Show me what you got. Like you're tryin' to hit me! I can take it!" He chuckles again, a bit more confidently, and leans his head down to look at Autumn from over the edge of his sunglasses.

"Thought you were gone," the man says, quietly, in a voice that's /drastically/ different from the one he's been using. It's a low growl--and one that should be accompanied by a dark, sharp-eared cowl.

Then, a moment later, he's back to his normal voice. "You from around here, baby?"

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn Stillwater looks at the man and the voice is promptly recognized. She keeps attacking the bag. She isn't exactly holding back and she does have some strength. "Outside. Disregard what I'm about to do." She whispers back to him as she keeps fighting with the bag.

It starts. She responds to the man much louder. "Look I'm not your type. I know how my technique is. Its shit! Jesus! I just wanted to focus on dealing with stuff!" She grabs her towel and a bottle of water she had sitting. Quickly she storms out. She's banking on people not playing hero. Once outside she slips into a little alleyway where smokers usually go to light up.

Batman has posed:
Seemingly humiliated, Matches Malone slinks back out the front door. "Maybe next time, I guess?" he asks in a good-natured tone to the front desk staffer, who shakes her head at him.

Once he's outside, he heads down the street and procures a small bag from behind a trashcan. A minute later, a figure hidden in a jacket, scarf, and hat appears in the alley near Autumn.

"Convincing stuff," the familiar, gravelly voice says.

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn Stillwater smirks a little to the man. "Thanks. Its not the first time I've had to chase a guy off. And trust me, for some reason the whole Androgynous look is a big hit with some guy." She shrugs and rubs the back of her head before coming back to the question at hand. "Its up in the air now. Things have gone a little crazy. Plus I'm still not finished with Graduation."

She frowns. "My Sister, she left a note. Said she loved me and didn't want to put me through all of this stuff for her. She's vanished. No idea where. Then I got an email from Ferris Air, They don't have a position for me right now like they said they would. So I am sorta screwed in that regard. I've been trying to figure things out. here of late, its been just, dealing with things a day at a time. I don't want to piss off the mob but I guess I already have. If I go to Metropolis I will be completely alone. I just dunno what to do."

Batman has posed:
"Journeys always seem the most frightening at their beginning," the jacketed man replies. "Especially when you set out alone. But it can be surprising what sort of person you become by the end."

He inhales deeply and slowly. "Do you /want/ to go to Metropolis? Or do you want to stay in Gotham? I remember you saying that it was dangerous for you here--is the mob less frightening than the idea of moving to a city with its own guardian angel?"

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn Stillwater sighs, "I'm used to the fear. I've lived in Gotham my whole life. You just sorta get used to it no matter which side of the law you play on. If you're not a criminal, you fear the criminals. If you're a criminal, you fear the GCPD or... well you. So... I pissed off the Mob because I defended myself. The same thing can happen in Metropolis."

She frowns and crosses her arms under her chest. "Batman, If I go to Metropolis, I'm not going to change. I can't change. I'm going to be the same me. Well physically I will change. Right now though, if I go, I have no idea where I am going to live. No home at all. I want to help people. I guess..." She pauses and turns away to looks out across the street.

"For the past few years I've visited the old folk's home because I wanted to make people happy. To make them feel good. To show love that they weren't getting. Then everything changed. I helped save a little girl's life. That to me was the best feeling ever. I knew that it was what I should be. I just dunno how to do it.

Batman has posed:
Batman, in his disguise reminiscent of 'The Invisible Man,' nods. "Unfortunately, now might be the worst possible time to be an honest citizen in Gotham. With law enforcement as it is ..." He pauses briefly. "Metropolis tends to be a happier place, all in all. I'm sure the foundation that runs the home you were staying at has contacts there."

"But," the man continues, "if you want to stay, that's commendable. As for helping people--it sounds like you already have a pretty solid understanding of how to do so."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn Stillwater looks at Batman curiously. "I think. I want to stay. I can find a job. Thats not an issue. With my IQ and talents... I can do the day to day stuff. That isn't going to stop me from what I am going to do at night. Batman. I'm going to start helping people. I don't have a lot of training but I can learn. I know I can do this." She sighs. "Metropolis is nice. I got nothing against that place. Its just. This is my home. This is where my family is. Good or bad, they are my family and I do love them. I just don't like them right now."

Her gaze goes to the ground. "I need help to do this though. I have a lot to learn. I've been lucky. So far I've manage to avoid getting myself killed even though I've come close. What do you suggest?

Batman has posed:
"Honestly?" the Batman replies, his voice just a tad softer than usual. "Years of training. Practice. Focus. Anything less and you're not going to survive. Not here."

He sighs. "I wish it weren't so. But this is dangerous work, and it would be reckless not to be straightforward. Even those who /have/ trained haven't always ..." The voice falters. "...survived," he finally says.

"I don't want to see that happen again. My recommendation is to stay in at night. Help your neighbor without putting a target on your back." Batman folds his arms across his chest. "It does more good than you might think."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn Stillwater frowns, "So, what you're saying is to not bother. Not try. To just hide at night being some civilian even after everything that happened. Thats the jist of it right? That way I will be nice, safe, and secure. No way I could ever get hurt. Even in the day time. You know the same day time when I had Two-Face put a gun to my head!"

She goes quiet for a few minutes. "That ain't going to happen. You could stop me tonight from helping out. Hell you could stop me every night of the week for years to come but I am not going to give up. There is no such thing as a safe civilian. I'm going to show these people love in a way that I never thought possible."

Batman has posed:
"The only love this city understands is fear and pain," Batman says in a flat tone. "One day, that might not be the case. But--for now--it needs the iron fist of justice and the terror that preys on criminal activity."

He puts up a hand. "Give it some thought. Your family will need you one day. Gotham will need you--alive. Protect yourself, protect your neighbors, love and support them ... but don't endanger yourself out in the night. Those of us who do have dedicated ourselves to it--and that's still no guarantee for our safety."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn Stillwater frowns, "I'm not saying it doesn't need your brand of justice. You've done some amazing stuff here. The fact though is, Love can be as powerful as fear. As pain. I see it every time I go to the old folks home. They live in fear and pain. Fear that they will die alone. Pain from gods knows what is afflicting them. One person showing love takes the pain away and erases the fear that they live in. Yes. This city needs your iron fist and the fear you represent. It also needs love though to show that there is more to life then cowering in a corner at night."

She frowns and shakes her head. "My family has shown me their colors. I love them but it will take a while for them to see the light. I will protect my neighborhood. I will show the love I have within me. The fact is though, There is no safety in the night or day. You can't be the bat on my shoulder. You can't save everyone. I can't go to the bank without getting a gun to my head. That was broad daylight. So... Is it enough to try to play suzy homemaker or should I let myself be more." She frowns.

Batman has posed:
Batman shakes his head. "Let yourself be more--but that doesn't mean pushing yourself to ruin. Help charities. Run them. There's a doctor you should meet ... Doctor Leslie Thompkins. She's done the kind of work that shows the power of love. I think you'd get along well."

The vigilante glances over his shoulder. "You're right that I won't always be around. That sometimes you're the only person you--anyone--can rely on. I'm telling you, though: the fight you're looking to take on is one that drains you. Find a way to use the love you feel in a productive way."

Batman clears his throat. "I shouldn't stay much longer. It's an especially ... troublesome time right now."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn Stillwater frowns, "We'll see how things shake out. Right now I have a problem. That problem is I need to sort things out with the Mob. I'll talk with them. Return their money. Make it clear that I'm not leaving." She sighs. "I can't be looking over my shoulder all the time. Like I already am."

She sighs, "As for being a person fighting the fight, I already am. I'm just lacking training and a flashy suit. We will see how things go. Be safe out there Batman." With that she starts walking her way back to the apartment complex.

Batman has posed:
Watching the woman leave, Batman heads in the opposite direction. He takes out a small cell phone from the pocket of his jacket.

"Alfred." He pauses. "Yes. I need you to get a message to Batwoman. There's another potential soldier in town--only she's got a different motive for training..."